January 13. A birthright sold cheaply, an attitude to adopt,

Readings: Gen 24:55-26:21; Ps 9:1-6, Prov 2:6-8, Matt 9:18-38

Genesis
24:
v60. What a great blessing. Do we believe in the power of blessing? How true this blessing would become.
25:
6. Abraham sent his sons away from Isaac to the east itno Arabia, to establsihe Isaac's unique identity.
22-23. Even before their birth we see that there is conflict between these twin boys.
26. As an indication of what would happen later in life we observe that Jacob grabs the heal of Esau, indicative of the birth-right he also grabbed.
28. Sibling rivalry developed.
v29-34. Oh, what Esau gives up & how easily. Esau was merely interested in his present desire. In fact there is a stern warning to us contained in Hebrews 12, that Christians should not throuw away their birthright. But yet how often when we are tempted by a sin of the present are we prepared to put our own inheritance in danger. These verses in Hebrews are some of the most worrying & challenging to the often misguided phrase 'once saved, always saved.'
26:
v1-6. Here is a test of faith, which I beleive Christians will face in the coming days. It often sees the most sensible thing to reach out for that which solves the problem, but God alone wants to be the one who solves our problems. If the ecomonmy is shaken as much as people think, then we need to be very careful what actions we take, it may lead us into something else which we trust in which is God. The purpose of His shaking is to remove those things which we trust in which are not Him.
v7. Isaac acts just like his father.

Psalm
The opens verses desribe how our attitude should be. One of thankfulness, full of devotion to Him, delaring His wonderful works, as we demonstrate His kingdom. Full of rejoicing & song. Now think, how far short of this mark am I?